The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-10
POWDERLY's POLICY.
Views OF the Labor Lead.r on th'
Subject Of immigration.

| n SpcClul 10 tut utOOt- DfnOcfQt
from Wilkesbarre, Pa, says The
Scranton Republican contained an
editorial severely eriticisiug Master
Workman Powderly's views on the
immigrant question. Powderly an
swers the criticism in two column
article in the Scranton Truth. He
says MY policy would un-
douqtedly shut the door against
a great many who most of all
have need of this country, but il
would not prevent the landing of any
individual of whom the country has
need, and as this is two sided ques-
ton, it is only iaii to consider the
requirements and needs OF the coun-
try, as we'll as the emigrant Does
the United States require an influx of
emigrauts at the rate Of from 1000 to
10000 day2 My experience teaches
me that the constantly increasing
tide Of immigration is detrimental to
the emigrant and to the country to
which he comes. | said, and now
repeat it, that, until it can be shown
that the person landing on our
shores can be self sustaining for at
least one year, he should not be al
lowed to land. 1t does not follow
that each emigrant should show the
ready cash, although that would be
better still. What is required is to
know the condition Of the country
and its needs, and the condition OF
the country is such that man can
not be self sustaining for the FIRST
year after his arrival.
1T he must knock at the door OF o
mine, mill or factory, aud offer TO
take the place Of the American work
ingman for less money than that
man receives for his labor, then his
advent to this country partakes more
Of the nature OF curse than bless
ing. My plan does not deal with the
emigrant alone. 1t will, through
the aid Of bureaus now being per-
fected, show what an amount OF i'm
migration this country requires;
more than that we should not have.
If the man who lands in this country
is a pauper, we have TO sustain him.
If he throws a resident OF this coun-
try out OF employment by taking his
situation from him and works Tor
less was es, he makes pauper or
dependent of the American work
man. Every man, to be in accord
with the genius OF our institutions,
should be independent, and not de-
pendent.
IL grant that not only thousands
but millions have come TO this coun-
try without visible means OF support,
aud they have not only done well,
but the country has cause TO bless
the day they landed. The conditions
are changed. The conditions which
surrounded the immigrant Of fifty,
twenty. five or ten years ago, were far
different from those surrounding the
poor fellow who lands today, and
among the men who cry out against
emigration today are thousands who
landed no longer ago than ten years.
Improved machinery and new in
ventions have, within the last
twenty-five years, made At possible
for one man TO do the work OF three,
and in many instances the work OF
ten. In every case where the ma
chine has made it possible for 4 man
to do in day what il required three
men 10 do before, two out Of three
must look elsewhere for q means OF
making a livelihood.
twenty-five years have witnessed
| Az .kaarnt,nn ~ aur tuhlt. landa
by syndicates, native and alien. Bo.
nanza farming ON the one hand and
land speculation ON the other have
made il impossible for the two men
who have been displaced by the ma
chine TO 20 upon the land and earn a
living. They must remain in the
town or city. Today we witness a
marvellous increase in the population
Of our cities, and an alarming de.
, crease in the population OF our farm
ing districts. That is tho agricultu
raj population docs not by any means
keep proportional pace with the pop.
ulation Of mining, manufacturing
and mechanic centers.
"All this tends to show that some
thing must BE- done 10 equalize our
!. population. The many who were
within sound OF my voice on the even
ing Of the Fourth, who are living ey'
idence that coming TO this country
without visible means Of support wa,
no bar TO their acquisition vf prop
; crty, but not land, within the las,
: fifty years, aud there was not a man
an ordinary laborer-ior | am moi
speaking OF mechanics - within
sound Of my voice who came Il
I Scranton within the last ten year.
: and can show a clear title deed /,
property in this county. Nor viii
the immigrant who lands todal
, without visible means OF support
own a home Of his own within III,
next fifty years, II the tide Of immi
grafton 10 permitted 10 fow on a. IL Ii
now flowing.
There was no necessity for apply
4 ing Mr.. Powderly's policy or an,
other policy 70 the immigrant OF tor
years ago, and yet in this very STATE
we passed 4 lava tramp act--IusI
= ten years ago TO imprison the mar
= who appeared on our streets without
:, visible means Of support. That wal
Q but the beginning Of the agitation o
the immigrant question. Then |
State passed law TO imprison for
. year the man who appeared W b,
p without visible means OF support. i
9 can not be said to extend very heart.
welcome 10 the immigrant who ma.
Q appear on our shores 10 the same con
ditiOn.
\ 81 know what the working people
d Of this country want, and that want
is not confined TO the American borI
y workingmen. IL IL universal. Thai
n want Is TO restrict Immigration 10
): the sake OF the country and the i'm
. migrant. In other cords the work
II ingmen want fair shais OF the pro
a lection that is afforded 10 the EN-
II ployers Of labor.
o 81 never went 30 far as 10 say tina
h nearly the entire body Of immigrant
u now pouring In are unskilled aud un
}. educated, but, admitting that th